Irvine, Calif. – (March 3, 2026) – USA Water Polo has released its Zone Award Winners for the 2025 season, which honor contributions in a variety of areas including coaching, officiating, volunteering, masters water polo, and more.
For the second straight year, Fordham water polo assistant coach
Ilija Duretic was honored, receiving the Ted Newland Award for Development Men's Coach in the Northeast Zone. By receiving this accolades, Duretic is now a finalist for the Ted Newland National Award. In 2024, Duretic received the Monte Nitzkowski Award (Elite Men's Coach Award) for the Northeast Zone.
Duretic just completed his third season at Fordham, as the Rams posted a 26-4 record and won their fifth consecutive MAWPC Championship and reached the National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship semifinals for the second straight year.
He was honored not only for his work with Fordham water polo, but also for his time working at Asphalt Green with their club programs.
Fordham, which ranked fifth in the final national polls and fifth in the country in team GPA, is the lone water polo team to rank in the top five nationally in both athletic accomplishment and academic success.
